MacDonald, Barone Bouts Announced for MMA Live 1

The MMA Live card in London, Ontario on May 19 just keeps getting better and better. Today, two new match ups were confirmed and they add even more star power to an already stacked card.

First up, Cory MacDonald takes on UFC and Pride veteran Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio. MacDonald (12-2), has only fought once a year for the past three years and looks to make 2011 his breakout year. Cory trains out of Gladiator MMA in Kingston and Tristar in Montreal. With eight years of MMA experience under his belt, MacDonald has defeated notable fighters such as Edwin Dewees, Thiago Goncalves and Matt MacGrath.

Aurelio (20-9), a nine year veteran of the sport has fought some of the biggest names in MMA like Gomi, Guida, Imanari, Ishida, Griffin, Dunham and Aoki. After going 2-3 in the UFC, Aurelio was given his walking papers in 2008 returning once in 2009 and suffering a split decision loss to rising prospect Evan Dunham. Since then Marcus has gone 2-1 only losing to top ranked Lightweight Shinya Aoki via unanimous decision.

Also added to the card is Ontario’s first ever legalized women’s MMA fight, where Anna Barone will meet Strikeforce veteran Julia “The Jewel” Budd. Barone (1-2) will look to rebound after a disappointing loss to Tannaya Hantelman. Barone currently training out of Tristar has made major changes to her game and looks to put on an impressive performance,

“I’ve made the necessary changes in my professional career and MMA training that will allow me to deliver the best of who I am to every fight. It has not been an easy transition however I have a great team around me that will make for an amazing year of fights.”

Budd (1-1), burst onto the scene last October when she made her professional MMA debut in Strikeforce and TKO’d Shana Olsen. Most recently the Gibson Kickboxing & Pankration trained fighter lost via KO in 14 seconds to rising star Amanda Nunes.

MMA Live 1 goes down May 19 in London, Ontario at the John Labatt Centre. The event will be headlined by Top 10 ranked Welterweight Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford who will take on UFC veteran Karo “The Heat” Parisyan.